The Swords Board has been working to revise the tryout schedule for the upcoming 2020-2021 season. With the COVID-19 restrictions by the State of Ohio, tryouts will look different this year in a variety of ways including limiting the number of skaters to social distance and restricting contact and scrimmages. Please work with us to navigate these unique times. The tryout schedule can be found on the Swords website and a pdf copy can be found by clicking here.

First know that we must follow the State of Ohio guidelines for social distancing and group size. Our plan is to reduce group sizes and stagger the rinks to allow for less people in the building at any one time. Registration will open 30 mins before each ice session and no earlier. We ask that players come dressed except for skates, gloves and helmets. We will be pre-assigning locker rooms so that players are appropriately distanced.

Once players have completed dressing, parents will need to leave the facility to keep the lobbies open for the next group entering. You will be permitted back in once your player has finished their session. We are requesting an emergency contact number in the actual registration this year in case we need to reach you while your player is on the ice.

Registration is now open and can be found at Swordshockey.com. We have had to increase the fee slightly due to higher ice costs, smaller on-ice groupings and enhanced cleaning. We will have a discount of $35 for anyone that registers on or before Friday, June 12. Do not forget that you need to get a 20-21 USA Hockey membership number before you can start the tryout registration.

In addition, we are happy to announce the coaches for the 20-21 Swords Season. Coaching prospectus for each coach will be added to the website shortly. Please note that due to the uncertain nature of COVID-19 we are unsure of what the season may look like. Please know that this may change some of the team’s plans and that we can not control this. We will be watching the State of Ohio and USAH guidelines that are constantly changing and planning to conform to their requirements.

We know that these are uncertain times, but we are excited to kick off the season and get the “new” hockey season underway.

Welcome back to Hockey! We recognize that we are in unprecedented times and hope that you and your family have been healthy and safe. We are closely watching the information provided by the State of Ohio and USA Hockey to develop ideas/plans for moving forward. To be clear, our first priority is the safety of our players, coaches and families as we prepare to return to the ice in next few weeks.

The Swords organization (previously Cincinnati Jr. Cyclones and Queen City Steam) has been supporting youth hockey for decades now and has worked through prior crisis, which include: 9/11, closure of the Cincinnati Gardens, Evendale Fire Department/CO2 requirements, to name a few. While COVID-19 presents its own unique challenges, we firmly believe we have the organization and coaches in place to continue teaching and developing youth hockey players.

We realize information has been slow in coming, here is what we can share today:

SPORTS PLUS:

While the facility has been closed, the employees have been working on cleaning and upgrading. The CAN rink curling circles have been removed, the dasher boards in both rinks have been cleaned, and all three compressors have been rebuilt. They have sanitized all areas and completed many painting projects. In moving forward, they have purchased sprayers and a special cleaner, rated effective for Covid, to continue the daily cleaning that will be required to open the building.

COVID PLANS:

You will notice when you register your player, a section on what measures we are putting in place for tryouts and your agreement to comply with the new standards. The new standards will most likely include complying with social distancing, limiting physical contact, and reducing the number of people in areas on the ice and in the rink.

We will be taking measures to reduce the number of players in locker rooms and in group activities. The fitness center and shooting room are still being evaluated. We will be restricting the storage of equipment and coaching gear at the rink. Lastly, we will be asking all players, coaches, and parents to support these measures and to be vigilant in maintaining safety. We believe these measures will help to keep us as safe as possible. We will continue to update our safety measures as we learn more.

BEYOND TRYOUTS:

We are not announcing policies and procedures beyond tryouts at this time. We believe we need to continue to evolve our safety precautions based on up-to-date information and direction from the State of Ohio. We plan to be as diligent as possible moving forward. For example, we have not made a determination on whether or not the fitness center/locker rooms will be open to teams for the season. We will be working hard to be sure we have access but want to be sure we put safety first.

TEAM FORMATION:

Our plan is to place all participants on teams. Final team numbers and league placement will be determined based on registration numbers and evaluations. Coaches will be announced in early June and prospectuses will be updated and added to the website prior to the start of tryouts.

U8/ADM PROGRAM:

We will not announce the coaching staff for our 2020-21 U8/ADM program until later in the summer. Details about the 2020-21 program can be found on the website. Registration will open in the coming weeks.

TRYOUT SCHEDULE:

We plan to post the tryout schedule as soon as we are given final guidelines from the State of Ohio and can make arrangements with Sports Plus. We will be changing up the schedule to allow for smaller groups and more time in-between sessions. Our plan is to provide as much safety and social distancing as possible for our players.

We will have more information out to you and your family as we are made aware. We looking forward to our “new normal” and getting our 2020-21 hockey season underway.

The Cincinnati Swords is pleased to kick off our 2020-21 hockey season with our team tryouts and formation of our 2020-21 teams.

Coaches: Our 2020-21 coaches will be announced as soon as all current teams conclude their season. We will announce under separate email and posted to the website. Coaching prospectuses which detail the coach’s background and team plans will be posted online prior to the tryouts.

Team Formation: We anticipate having 3-4 U10 teams, 4-5 U12 teams, 4-5 U14 teams, 2-3 JV and Varsity teams. The number of teams is dependent on the number of players that register, the number of available coaches and the skill set of the registrants. Each team can expect 2 practices a week, either solo or shared. In addition, teams will receive a set amount of game ice to use for home events. Teams also participate in tournaments (league and non-league) and non-league scrimmages.

U14 Tier 1 Team: For the 2020-2021 season, the Swords board of directors has approved the request of Coach Backen to elevate his team to Tier I in compliance with USA Hockey/Mid-Am rules and regulations. Team Backen has demonstrated continued growth in play level. His team first topped the BTHL, then moved to Little Ceasars where again they finished first in the top division. This past year they played an independent AAA schedule and continued their growth on and off the ice. We are pleased that Coach Backen would like to take his team to Tier I and compete as a premier team at both states and potentially nationals. All high-level U14 2007’s that are interested in being considered for this team, will have the option to participate in his team tryouts. A specific question regarding player interest is included in the U14 2007 registration. Families should review Coach Backen’s prospectus as the commitment level is very high and there are additional costs.

League Play: Each year we strive to have our teams playing at the highest level possible. Again, this year we anticipate teams playing in Little Caesars, Buckeye Travel Hockey League, Cincinnati High School Club League and Independent.

Tryout Schedule: All tryout sessions are being held at Sports Plus, 10765 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45241. There will be at least three evaluation sessions for each skater and goalie. The first session will be a skills assessment by USA Hockey age group for all skaters AND goalies. The second session will be a battle drills session again by USA Hockey age group for all skaters AND goalies. The last session(s) will be our team scrimmages. Team scrimmages are invite-only and skaters and goalies may be invited to multiple sessions. The tryout schedule has been posted on the website at www.swordshockey.com. As a reminder, the tryout schedule is subject to change based on registration numbers. We will update the website as quickly as possible.

Goalie Schedule: In addition to the three evaluation sessions with the skaters, there is an additional assessment for our goalies on Friday, April 17 from 5:45-7:15pm on the USA rink at Sports Plus.

Registration: Registration will open on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. You must have a 2020-21 USA Hockey number to register on our website. The registration fee will be $100 if paid by Friday, April 10. After April 10, the registration fee increases to $150. Once offered a spot on a team, all families must process an initial deposit of $500 no later than 48 hours after the team selections are posted on the Swords website, which will hold your player’s team spot. The Spartan tryouts will be held after the Swords complete their selections. If a player is selected to a Spartans team and accepts, we will transfer the $500 deposit to the Spartans due to our affiliation with the Spartans.

Excused Absence: It is expected that all players trying out for any team attend the tryouts. However, if a player is injured or unable to attend a tryout, the player must contact the office at
. The coaching committee and coaching staff will work to provide as fair an opportunity as possible.

Play Up: If a player would like to be considered for a team out of their USA Hockey age group, they must (1) register and pay for the tryout in their current age bracket, (2) send an email to
and (3) obtain and complete a Player Movement Waiver from the Swords office. The waiver must be completed before the player can take the ice with the older age group. Please note, for a player to be offered a position on an older team, the independent evaluators in conjunction with the coaching committee must rate the player as a top-tier player. The decision of the coaching committee is final. All Mid-Am play up guidelines will be followed including the constraint that no roster can include more than 25% of players “playing up”.

Checking Clinic: All players birth year 2007 and older must have already attended a checking clinic OR attend one of the checking clinics held on April 5 or April 6. Information about the clinic will be included in the online registrations for our U14/Bantam and U18/Midget/High School age registrations. Only spring participants and those players registered for our 2020-21 try out will be allowed to participate in the checking clinic.

Jersey/Equipment Order: Due to our time constraints with ordering and receiving custom jerseys, we ask all families to have their player(s) sized for jerseys, socks and team warm ups during tryouts. Sizers are available at all tryout sessions. We have worked with our vendor and they are creating new socks for our teams. Please make sure you try on the sizers before you order. They will size differently than last year. You will not need to place an order until after you have been notified about your player’s team placement. Team equipment requirements will be set by the coach and communicated to the parents immediately after we receive your initial deposit. All purchases will be made through an online store on the website. Our order deadline this year will be Friday, May 8.

Team Fees: Fees vary based on both the number of team participants and the coaches’ program. In addition, we are not able to determine ice allocation until after the conclusion of our tryouts. Therefore, we will not have final team costs until early summer. Team fees are set by coaches and generally range from $1,500 to $3,500. Please review the coaching prospectuses for specific details and plans for individual teams.

Team Financial Information: As stated above, we need all families to process an initial deposit of $500 no later than 48 hours after the team selection is posted to the Swords website, which will hold a player’s team spot. With all teams being announced in the same timeframe, it is critical that players do not delay confirming their intentions so we can make any appropriate roster adjustments. No refunds (or transfers) will be given for the initial team payment which signifies a player’s acceptance of a spot on the team. Additionally, all Swords teams will have a monthly payment due on the first of each month (July through November). The Refund Policy is included in your initial registration and also posted on the Swords website at www.swordshockey.com for your review.

We are very excited about the upcoming 2020-21 season. If you have any questions, please contact the Paul Benkner, hockey commissioner at benkner37@gmail.com or Jennie Tiemeyer at office@swordshockey.com.

USA Hockey launched the American Development Model (ADM) in 2009 providing a detailed blueprint for optimal athlete development. By giving your child the ADM experience, you’re positioning them for long-term success. It’s proven programming, built on qualitative and quantitative research from leading hockey nations, sports scientists, coaches and educators. USA Hockey also has an ADM specific webpage at www.admkids.com.

2020-21 Cincinnati Swords ADM Program Specifics:

Our program provides players with both ADM structured practices as well as half ice team practices. The Swords will focus on skater development and FUNdamentals. This is the time when a foundation is laid for future success. Fun competitions will also be introduced through a structured team environment.

Ellen Metz will continue her role as ADM Commissioner and Learn to Play Hockey Program Director. Ellen comes with a strong hockey background, is a Level 4 certified coach and a preschool teacher. She has worked with youth on and off the ice at all age levels from mites through high school. The Swords association is proud to have coaches who are all USA Hockey certified and have completed all the USA Hockey coaching requirements. In addition, the ADM program will have access to Don Biggs, our Director of Hockey. Don has coached players at all age levels and is a former professional player and a member of the AHL Hall of Fame.

The ADM program will run from the beginning of September through late February/early March and includes a weekly ADM on-ice session for players to work on their skating skills, stickhandling, puck control and positioning. Additionally, there will be weekly “team” practices on shared ice with another team. We anticipate these sessions being held on Mondays and Fridays but will not be able to finalize until after the older team tryouts.

We will take the first two weeks (both Mondays and Fridays) to work with the players and get to know them. We will not form teams until after these sessions. There will be a two-week schedule where we rotate the players and after we determine teams, there will be a set schedule based on team placement for the remainder of the season.

Finally, we will have weekend sessions that will be a combination of practices and jamborees. Jamborees are cross-ice scrimmages with other local associations. All jamborees will be cross ice pursuant to USA Hockey/MID-AM policies. The season caps off with an end-of-season tournament. Teams will also attend an additional tournament event.

Financial Information:

A final cost will not be available until after the evaluations, but we anticipate it will be in line with last year’s fee of $995 if registered w/deposit by May 15, 2020. Please be sure to review the refund policy which is posted on the website and included in your registration. Your fee includes:

Registration for our Fall/Winter Programs opens on April 1 when USA Hockey makes the 2020-21 membership available. To register, please go to www.swordshockey.com and click on Register Online on the left-hand side.

We are very excited about the upcoming 2020-21 season. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Ellen Metz at
or Jennie Tiemeyer at
.

Beginning this year for the 2017-18 season, all skaters, at least one parent and all coaches (head, assistant, on-ice helpers) must comply with OH Senate Bill 252 (Lindsay’s Law). Below is general information about the bill and the requirements. Even if you do not live in Ohio, if you are participating on a Swords team, you must complete the requirements.

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Lindsay’s Law: Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Youth Athletes

What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

A Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) occurs when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating, cutting off blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. Sudden cardiac arrest is fatal if not treated immediately, most often by a defibrillator.

Who is Lindsay?

Senate Bill 252 is named for national heart health advocate and former Miss Ohio Lindsay Davis who suffers from a heart condition and has since dedicated her career to raising awareness of this potentially fatal condition.

"Sudden cardiac arrest is the number one killer of student athletes," said Davis. "At any moment I could have died because coaches and teachers had no idea this was even a possibility for someone who looked as healthy as I did at that age."

In accordance with this law, the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio Department of Education, the Ohio High School Athletic Association, the Ohio Chapter of the American College of Cardiology and other stakeholders jointly developed guidelines and other relevant materials to inform and educate students and youth athletes participating in or desiring to participate in an athletic activity, their parents, and their coaches about the nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest.